Last Straw Awards 2019

By Joe Straw

Theatre is a collaborative effort. So many things need to come together in order to have a successful show. Writers work for years to get the words just right.   

Some actors work the show in workshops, others continually work on their craft.  Suffice it to say, they come every night, on time, and generally give more than one hundred percent. 

Directors give the production shape and form and by some miracle it all comes together.

The list of writers, actors, and directors that are mentioned below were exceptional in their craft. The performances stayed with me long after I left the theatre. So without further ado here are the recipient of The Last Straw awards of 2019.

Writers:

Randy Ross – Birdland Blue

Evelina Fernández – The Mother of Henry

George W. Corbin – The Wrong Kind of People

Jonathan Caren - Canyon

Actors:

Lila Gavare – Desert Rats by Rufus Edelman – Latino Theatre Company

Kurtis Bedford – It is Done by Alex Goldberg – Theatre 40

George Villas – It is Done by Alex Goldberg – Theatre 40

Kate Whitney – It is Done by Alex Goldberg – Theatre 40

Marcus Clark-Oliver – Birdland Blue By Randy Ross – The Robey Theatre Company

Damon Rutledge – Birdland Blue by Randy Ross – The Robey Theatre Company

Eddie Goines – Birdland Blue by Randy Ross – The Robey Theatre Company

Esperanza America – The Mother of Henry by Evelina Fernández – Latino Theatre Company

Robert J. Revell – The Mother of Henry by Evelina Fernández – Latino Theatre Company

Kim Hamilton – Brain Problems by Malcolm Barrett – Ammo Theatre Company

Michael Feldman - Brain Problems by Malcolm Barrett – Ammo Theatre Company

Malcolm Barrett - Brain Problems by Malcolm Barrett – Ammo Theatre Company

Anne DeSalvo – The Hairdresser by Anne DeSalvo – Working 2020 – Whitefire Theatre Company

Joseph Lyle Taylor – The Welder by Joseph Lyle Taylor – Working 2020 – Whitefire Theatre Company

Johnny Clark – True West by Sam Shepard – Vs Theatre

Andrew Hawkes – True West by Sam Shepard – Vs Theatre

David Starzyk – True West by Sam Shepard – Vs Theatre

Ema Lou Hérbert – The Heal by Aaron Posner – The Getty Villa

Kiki Ebsen – To Dad with Love A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen by Kiki Ebsen – East West Theatre

London Kim – The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter – Sunscreen Theatricals Production Stages LA

Ben Crowely – The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter – Sunscreen Theatricals Production Stages LA

Chauntice Green – The Wrong Kind of People by George W. Corbin – Latino Theatre Company

Darrell Phillip – The Wrong Kind of People by George W. Corbin – Latino Theatre Company

Stephanie Schulz – The Wrong Kind of People by George W. Corbin – Latino Theatre Company

Joey Marie Urbina – The Art of Dining by Tina Howe – Jamaica Moon Prods and the GGC Players

Lucy Walsh – The Art of Dining by Tina Howe – Jamaica Moon Prods and the GGC Players

Chad Doreck – The Art of Dining by Tina Howe – Jamaica Moon Prods and the GGC Players

Miles Cooper  - Cock by Mike Bartlett – Crimson Theatre Company – Beverly Hills Playhouse

Andrew Creer - Cock by Mike Bartlett - Crimson Theatre Company – Beverly Hills Playhouse

Caroline Gottlieb - Cock by Mike Bartlett Crimson Theatre Company – Beverly Hills Playhouse

Robert R. Ryel - Cock by Mike Bartlett - Crimson Theatre Company – Beverly Hills Playhouse

Roslyn Cohn – Fifteen Men in A Smoke-Filled Room by Colin Speer Crowley – Theatre 40

Directors:

Jeff G Rack – It is Done

Whitney White – Canyon

Ben Guillory – Birdland Blue

Julie Nunis – The Dumb Waiter

C. Julian White – The Wrong Kind of People
 Michael Yavnieli - Cock

The Ortiz Award 2019 is given to the play that showcases an outstanding presentation of diversity and art in a theatrical presentation.  This award is named in honor of Vilma Ortiz, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at UCLA and a champion of diversity in the arts and in her academic field of study. This year the recipient is:

The Mother of Henry by Evelina Fernández – Directed by José Luis Valenzuela – The Latino Theatre Company